Poems by Robert Louis Stevenson - 1916 Author:Robert Louis Stevenson Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: PRAYER (Written in 1869) In his youth Stevenson, as we know, indulged in acts which in better moods aroused his passionate regret. It may have been in such... more » a moment that he wrote this prayer, in the month of October, 1869. It has, in the margin, six lines worth recording as the most definite expression of faith in the basic tenet of the Christian religion to be found among his poems: But howsoe'er my fancies run O Lord, from thee, When Love, or vanquished sin or pride Thou lookest to see, Look on Thine holy son that died, And not on me. PRAYER I ask good things that I detest, With speeches fair: Heed not, I pray thee Lord, my breast, But hear my prayer. I say ill things I would not say — Things unaware: Regard my breast, Lord, in Thy day, And not my prayer. My heart is evil in thy sight: My good thoughts flee: O Lord, I cannot wish aright— Wish thou for me. O bend my words and acts to Thee However ill, That I, whate'er I say or be, May serve Thee still. O let my thoughts abide in Thee Lest I should fall: Shew me Thyself in all I see, Thou Lord of all. POEMS WRITTEN IN 1870 LO! IN THINE HONEST EYES I READ THOUGH DEEP INDIFFERENCE SHOULD DROWSE LO! IN THINE HONEST EYES I READ THOUGH DEEP INDIFFERENCE SHOULD DROWSE The first of these poems was written in October, 1870; the second in December. Before he has reached the age of manhood, Stevenson is already deeply involved in an affair of the heart—a romance which was afterwards to bring him many hours of sorrow. In these verses, however, there breathes a spirit of repose. The second poem shows the young poet cognizant of his stormy nature. He seems, moreover, to be aware that the love which now engages his affections is not to lead to the lasting ...« less